Notes of Lessons: Drill, Class IV

[We have thought that it might be of use to our readers (in their own families) to publish from month to month during the current year, Notes of Lessons prepared by students of the House of Education for the pupils of the Practising School. We should like to say, however, that such a Lesson is never given as a tour de force, but is always an illustration or an expansion of some part of the children’s regular studies (in the Parents’ Review School), some passage in one or other of their school books.—Ed.]

Subject: Spanish Exercises • Group: Drill • Class IV • Time: 20 minutes

By Adѐle Gytha Roffe
The Parents’ Review, 1904, pp. 464-465

Objects

I. To make the girls more supple and graceful in their movements.

II. To begin to teach them the Spanish exercises.

III. To increase their sense of rhythm.

Lesson

Step I.—Explain to the girls the use of these exercises, which is to enable them to bend the body easily and gracefully, and make them more supple.

Step II.—Do the first exercise before the girls very slowly and counting.

Kneel on the left knee with the arms stretched above the head, then turn the body from the waist to the right, still keeping the arms up. Bend the body slowly sideways and downwards till the hands touch the floor, carry them across the body to the left, gradually straightening the back as the arms rise.

Repeat the same movement, only beginning from the left. When the arms are again above the head, bend from the waist as far backwards as possible, stretching the arms wide at the same time. From this position bend the body forwards and downwards, until the hands again touch the floor, then bring them up by the left, at the same time rising on both feet and making a pirouette.

Step III.—Repeat the exercise for the girls, this time with the music. Let the girls practise the exercise without the music, and in order to help them, do it with them. When this exercise is known, go on to number two.

Step IV.—The first movement is to raise the right hand above the head, looking up at it, then slowly let it fall, till the fingers touch the toes, at the same time the body bends downwards, but the knees must not be bent. Raise the body and carry the arm up to its former position.

Repeat the exercise with the other arm.